• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: The week in Tampa (video)

  19th May 2017

  Over the last few days, the Shephard team has had several opportunities to speak to top officials from US Special Operations Command, as well as leading figures …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Ballooning market for ISR aerostats (video)

  18th May 2017

  Florida-based company Drone Aviation is showcasing its range of tethered drones and balloons at this year's SOFIC in Tampa, Florida. Speaking to Shephard, Art Hughes explains a …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: Military and VIP presence on the up (video)

  19th May 2017

  This year's ITEC took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, for the first time and for those attending the show the Dutch Ministry of Defence had a …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Meeting the SOF comms need (video)

  18th May 2017

  Communications specialists Harris is displaying a wide-range of communications and soldier systems solutions at this year's SOFIC exhibition in Tampa, Florida. Shephard spoke to Dennis Moran …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Steiner releases DBAL-A4 v2 (video)

  17th May 2017

  Steiner eOptics has used this year's SOFIC exhibition to unveil its newest laser aiming device, known as the DBAL-A4 v2. Shephard spoke to Ron Godlewski about …

• Land Warfare

  SOFIC 2017: 3D Printed .50 Cal Suppressor from Delta P Design

  19th May 2017

  Oregon manufacturer Delta P Design used the SOFIC 2017 exhibition to announce that it has developed a .50 calibre machine-gun suppressor to add to its …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Garden Reach targets OPV exports (video)

  18th May 2017

  Historically associated with shipbuilding programmes for the Indian Navy, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) is eyeing the international OPV market for potentially lucrative exports. …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Lockheed proposes exoskeleton tech (video)

  17th May 2017

  Lockheed Martin is using this year's SOFIC exhibition in Tampa, Florida, to showcase its FORTIS exoskeleton technologies, which it is developing in partnership with the …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: QuantaDyn merges new technologies

  18th May 2017

  US company QuantaDyn, specialists in the provision of Joint Terminal Attack Controller training systems, has been exhibiting at ITEC 2017 in Rotterdam and has brought …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: Endeavor roll out armed UGV (video)

  17th May 2017

  Endeavor Robotics is using this year's SOFIC exhibition to showcase its 710 Kobra integrated with a 7.62mm remote weapon station. More known for their work …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: Rockwell rolls out Coalescence (video)

  17th May 2017

  Rockwell Collins demonstrated its Coalescence mixed-reality solution at ITEC in Rotterdam after initially launching the product in 2016.  The company is focusing on the role-playing market …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: SEA enhances navy simulator (video)

  17th May 2017

  SEA's flight deck officer training capability is currently being used by the UK Royal Navy, and at ITEC the company is demonstrating further enhancements to …

• Training

  ITEC 2017: QuantaDyn reveals simulation firsts (video)

  17th May 2017

  At this year's ITEC in Rotterdam QuantaDyn is showing its Joint Fires Simulation and Training System with the Bohemia Interactive Simulation VBS Blue image generator and …

• Special Operations

  SOFIC 2017: What to expect (video)

  15th May 2017

  Grant Turnbull talks with Special Operations Forum North American editor Scott Gourley about the key trends that are likely to influence this year's proceedings at …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Regional analysis (video)

  16th May 2017

  Ahead of the start of IMDEX Asia 2017 Shephard Media's Asia Pacific editor Gordon Arthur provides a maritime security overview of the region, addressing the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Ashok Leyland LBPV (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background The IAF created the Garud commando force in 2004 to protect its airbases, carry out combat search and rescue and conduct covert operations ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  According to documents released by the Danish Ministry of Defence, a total of 233.6 million Danish Krone (US$34.669 million) were allocated to this programme. 62.1 ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate (2017) [Poland]

  Programme Background Order In November 2017, Poland ordered 100 sets of Warmate loitering munitions, each consisting of ten platforms, for a reported 100 million Polish Zloty ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Makassar Class LPD (7)

  Indonesia signed a contract for $150 million for two LPDs in the Makassar class, KRI Makassar and KRI Surabaya, with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering ...

• Patrol boats

  Rajshree Class (Flight II)

  Programme BackgroundThe Rajshree class is to consist of 13 FPVs built in two separate flights. Flight I saw construction begin in 2010 and all eight vessels ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2017 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and first-generation ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  New Exploration and Escort Helicopter (NEES) (Phase I) [Italy]

  Programme Background In 2017, the Italian government signed a contract with Leonardo to replace its fleet of AW129 Mangusta attack helicopters with the in-development AW249, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle [Czechia]

  Programme Background Earmarked The ACR took delivery of ten ScanEagle systems (100 UAVs), which were received as a donation from the US in 2015. In ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Queen Elizabeth Class

  The contract to begin the construction of the first ship was awarded in 2008, ten years after the programme was announced in the 1998 SDR. ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  S26T [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Navy has been in the process of acquiring a new submarine for a number of years. They formally selected China's ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Pistols

  Jericho Pistol 941

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho Pistol 941 is available in 9mm, .40 S&W; and .45 ACP calibres and in standard, short ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  V-RAPTOR

  Unveiled at LAAD 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, the V-RAPTOR is a tactical police armoured vehicle from domestic manufacturer Combat Armor Defense do Brasil.

• OPVs

  Israel Shipyards OPV

  The Israel Shipyards OPV design is a 400t-500t vessel designed for naval security operations. The 500t version can equip a light marine helicopter (up to five ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Guará WS

  Avibras is marketing the 4x4 Guará WS light armoured vehicle, a further development of its 4x4 AV-VB4 RE Guará prototype. Developed in cooperation with the ...

• Land: manned turrets

  TORC30

  The TORC30 is a stabilised unmanned turret armed with a Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM 30mm cannon being developed by Ares, an Elbit subsidiary, and the Brazilian Army’s ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Armadillo TA-2

  The Armadillo TA-2 is an automatic or manned rocket launcher system designed to be fully retracted inside a 4x4 light vehicle.The concept, which was being ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  Dragonfire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Military - UUVs

  ThunderFish Alpha

  The ThunderFish Alpha (formerly DeDAvE) is an AUV designed for deep-sea military, commercial and scientific applications. In March 2017, Kraken announced a licensing agreement for ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...

• OPVs

  La Confiance Class (PLG)

  The La Confiance-class, also known as the Guyanese Light Patrol Vessel (PLG), in service with the French Navy, was designed by Bureau Mauric and built ...

• Submachine guns

  FN SCAR-SC

  FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...